Propeller for ships or the like



1,631,744 June 1927' J. K. LOWE PROPELLER FOR SHIPS OR .THE LIKE I Filed Oct. 14. 1926 Patented June 7, 1927.

JAMES K. LOWE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

PROPELLER FOR SHIPS OR THE LIKE.

' Application filed. October 14, 1926. Serial No. 141,645.

This invention relates to propellers for boats, ips, or thelik-e, and has for its par ticular object the provision of a propeller of the push plate type capable of being attached to any kind of a vessel in such a manner as to increase the speed of the vessel, at the same time materially lowering the expense incident to operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a propeller ot' the push plate type embodying a pair of tunnel shaped members secured to a vessel below the low water line and capable of propelling the vessel in an eiiicient manner, and same time lowering the operating cost.

A further. object of the invention is the provision, of a propeller embodying a pair of tunnel shaped members, push plates reciprocating in said members, means for operating said push plates, ried by the tunnel shaped members whereby said push plates may be arranged at different angular positions with relation to the tunnel shaped members for the propelling of said vessels to which said members are attached.

A. further object of the invention is the provision of a push plate propeller for vessels, having tunnel shaped members and push plates located in said nembers, cams for operating said push plates when at the inlet and outlet ends of said tunnel shaped members, and means connecting said pushplates to the engines of a vessel, whereby a propelling action may be obtained for the driving of said vessels.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, pointed out in the accompanying drawin and claimed.

In the drawing,

Figure '1 is a. side elevational view of my improved propeller, showing the same attached to a fragmentary portion of a vessel;

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the propeller; I

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken on the line 8-3 of. Figure 5;

Figure 4: is a plan view of the propeller, illustrating the same at the limit of its outward movement; and,

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the propeller, looking in from the discharge end.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 5 at the and means carindicates a vessel 01" any known type having a suitable propeller driving means 6, and secured to the stern of this vessel is an underwater deck 7, to which is secured my improved propellers 8.

My propellers 8 embody a. pair of tunnel shaped members in the form of rectangular casings, and as the structure of both is identical, the description of one will serve for all.

The propeller 8 comprises a rectangular tunned shaped member 8, the top and bottom walls of which are provided with superposed coinciding longitudinally extending slots 10. The slots 10-terminate adjacent the inlet end 11 and discharge end 12 of the tunnel shaped members 8, as clearly illustrated in Figures 2,3, and .4- of the drawing.

Mounted in the tunnel shaped member .8, for reciprocating motion, is a push plate 13, which plate is reciprocated by a U-shaped operating member 14. The U-shaped operating member 14 has its arm portions lembracing the top and bottom 'walls of the casing 9, and the terminals of said arm portions are pivotally secured, asat 16, to the upper and lower ends of a rod 17, carried by the plate 18. The web 18 of the U-shaped member 14, is connected at its central portion, as at 19, to the driving mechanism 6 of the vessel 5, so that upon operation 01? the engines of the vessel, the driving mechanism 6 will be reciprocated, in turn reciprocating the U-sheped member 1.4 by. virtue of which reciprocation, the push plate 13 will be reciprocated in the-easing 9 of the tunnel shaped member 8.

The casing .9 provided on its top wall adjacent its discharge end, with a cam faced lug 20, which is to have contact with a cam member 21, carried by the top arm of the U-shaped member 14 at its point of connection with the rod 17. This cam member 21 engaging the cam surface of the lug 20, will turn the push plate 13 a quarter of a turn, or until it is parallel with the slots 10 and arms of the operating member 14, thus permitting a return motion of the push plate back to its initial'position at the inlet end of the tunnel 8.

The paralleling of the push plate 13 with the slots 10, permits the push plate to cleave through the water on its return stroke.

To limit the push plate to a quarter of a turn in the casing 9, I have provided a pair of stop lugs 22 on the interior of the top and ill) lll J bottom walls, centrally of their side edges, so that when the cam 21 engages the cam surface 20 and the push plate is turned, the paralleling o1" theplate with the slots 10 is assured by the contact of the plate with the lugs 22.

A lug 23 having a cam surface,is secured to the bottom wall of the casing 9 adjacent the inlet end thereof and adjacent the inner end of the slot 10 in the bottom wall thereof. This cam lug 23 is engaged by a cam member 2 1, secured to the terminal of the U-shaped operating member '14-, which embraces the bottom Wall of the casing 9, it being secured thereto as at 25, in the same manner as the cam 21 is secured to the upper arm or" the operating member 14.

The engagement of the cam 2 1 with the cam lug 23 returns the push plate 13 backto its normal position at right angles to the slots 10, and upon reciprocating action of the U-shaped operating member 1-4 the plate will be driven in the direction of the dis charge end of the casing, which in turn propels the vessel forward.

The casing 9 is provided adjacent the inlet end 11 on the interior thereof, with stop lugs 26, which limit the movement of the push plate l3 and assure the positioning of the plate at right angles to the slot 10, so that a positive propelling action can be obtained. Y

It is to beunderstood that theminor details relative to the manner in which the device is connected may be varied to suit the convenience of the boat, ship, or the like, to which said device isattached.

In operation.

Vfhen the device is used, there are pro vided a pair of casings 9 attaclied to the stern end of a vessel, and the push plate in each casing; is alternately operated. That is, when direction of the inlet end of its respective casing, and by virtue of the cams and cam lug surfaces, the push plate 13 is operated to either cleave'throughthe water or present a valve surface topropelthe water.

It is to be understood that certain minor changes may be resorted to without depart ing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. 7

Having thus described my invent-ion, what I claim as new is:

1. A propeller for ships or the like, comprising tunnel shaped members, push plates located in said members, means for alternately reciprocatii'ig said push plates, and means for changing the angular arrangement of said plates in said tunnel members.

2. A propeller for ships or the like, comprising a pair oi tunnel members, means for securing;' the members to the stern end of a ship, reciprocating pusn plates located in said members, means for reciprocating said plates and. eonnecting the latter to the driving mechanism of a ship, and plate turning members carried by said tunnel and reciprocating means.

3. A propeller for ships or the like, comprising a pair of tunnel members including casings, slots in said casings, plates slidab'ly mounted in said casings, means connected to said plates and operating in said slots, an operating member connected to said means for reciprocating said plates, a plate turn.- ingimeans associated with said casing'and operating member whereby said p'lates'may be moved parallel or at right angles to said slots, and means to connect said operating member to the driving mechanism of a ship.

4. A propeller for ships comprisinga casing having a longitudinally extending slot in its top and bottom wall, a push plate in said casing, a rod connected todsaid push.

plate and extending through said-slots, a U- shaped operating member embracing the top andbottom wall of said casing and connected to said rod of the push plate, cams-secured to the operating member at its point of connection with the push plate, cam surfaces carried by the casing, means for reciprocating said U-shap'ed operating member, said cams and cam surfaces turning said push plate-in different directions when at oppo site ends of thec'asing, and means to limit the movement of the push plate when it is being turned. v

In testlmony whereof he hereunto .aflixes' his signature.

JAMES Lows. 

